table of contents
- Outdoor, balcony, living room
- light
- temperature
- Space requirement
- floor
- Rain and wind protection
- Change of location outdoors
- frequently asked Questions
Aloe vera are considered to be very robust plants. However, the prerequisite is that the location meets your requirements. The most important location criteria are listed below.
In a nutshell
- Adapt location of the desert of Africa
- is used to desert conditions
- Leaf succulents thrive indoors as well as outdoors if the site conditions are right
- Sunny location under certain conditions
Outdoor, balcony, living room
The desert plant, which comes from the grass tree family (Xanthorrhoeaceae), thrives outdoors and on the balcony as well as in the living area. The following site conditions should be taken into account:
- Outdoors only at constant temperatures above 15 degrees Celsius
- Planting in the bed is just as possible as in tubs and pots
- Relocation from living space to the open field is recommended in summer
- Ideal location for living space on windowsill at south-facing window or in the winter garden
light
One of the most important criteria for healthy and vigorous growth of the aloe vera is a bright location, preferably full sun to sunny. It also grows in partial shade, but much more slowly and “measly”. In addition, it becomes more prone to rot there if it gets too much water. The following details should also be considered:
- Full sun leads to reddish-brown leaf color (natural process)
- Provide less sunny space if you want green leaves
- In the sun and at high temperatures, the tips of the leaves often dry out (normal)
- Young plants do not belong in full sun and do not tolerate direct sunlight, so always place them in partial shade
Note: The leaf succulents do not always react in the same way to light or tolerate it in the same way. If the leaves turn brown, this may be due to excessive exposure to light. A clear indication of insufficient light is when the leaves are flat on the ground instead of growing upwards.
temperature
Due to its tropical / subtropical origin, aloe vera likes it warm. This is where it develops best and can reach leaf lengths of up to two meters or more. The most important site conditions in terms of temperature include the following:
- During the growing season from spring to autumn between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius is ideal
- During winter time between ten and 15 degrees Celsius is required for it to bloom
- No temperatures below ten degrees as it will be damaged
Attention: If the ambient temperature drops in the direction of five degrees Celsius, the plant already begins to show the first signs of frostbite. If the temperature drops below five degrees Celsius, it can quickly die off due to the frozen water in the leaves.
Space requirement
So that the aloe vera can spread well, it is important to ensure that the location is large enough, which is particularly important when planting in the bed. A planting distance of between 30 and 40 centimeters is required here. If pots / tubs are chosen, they should already have a diameter of 30 centimeters, even with young plants, in order to avoid frequent transplanting.
floor
During the special for cultivation in pots / tubs Succulents- and there is cactus soil for the aloe vera, important criteria must be taken into account when choosing the bed location for the soil conditions. If this is not taken into account, it can become a problem, especially with regard to the plant neighbors, because Aloe vera are very lime-loving, but many other plants do not do well with limestone soils get by.
Soil criteria:
- Poor in humus
- Nutrient-rich
- Permeable to water
- Dry to moderately moist
- Contains sand (absolutely necessary to store water and avoid rot)
- Mineral and calcareous
- Ideal pH value: 4.5
Rain and wind protection
Strong, long-lasting moisture, such as occurs in continuous rain, can be fatal for aloe vera. The risk of root rot is immensely high in these cases. In addition, too much water often leads to stunted growth, because it belongs to the drought-loving plants. Therefore, the aloe should be given a rain-protected location, which ideally also offers protection from the wind. Especially in spring, cold winds can have a negative impact on health. The same applies to drafts in the house, which should be avoided especially during the rest phase in winter.
Change of location outdoors
For the leaf succulents, every change of location means a burden because it has a hard time getting used to it. But if it is to be put outside after the winter, it cannot be avoided. It is important that you slowly get used to the (new) lighting conditions. It is essential to avoid direct sun and too much sun, as this can cause sunburn that is harmful to plants. It is ideal to first place them in the partial shade and to expose them to the sun a little more every day from the third day onwards. It should take about twelve to 14 days to get used to it. After that she can stay in full sun and outside.
frequently asked Questions
Basically, an aloe vera should not be changed over during the winter season. It is in hibernation and accordingly it is difficult to get used to new circumstances. If the change of location cannot be avoided, you should make absolutely sure that the same location conditions exist at the new location as at the old one.
This is very risky because you don't know how mild or how frosty the winter will be in Germany. Temperatures can drop unexpectedly and quickly from plus ten degrees Celsius to zero. Then even the best protection against the cold will not help and the plant will freeze to death. Wintering outdoors is therefore always not advisable and instead you should offer the aloe vera winter quarters with temperatures between ten and 15 degrees Celsius.
Aloe Vera is a weak eater. This means that it can theoretically be placed between all plant species, since it does not represent any competition for supply. However, it can only be plants that can cope well with the acidic soil if they are in close proximity to the succulent plant. Suitable specimens include heather such as common heather (Calluna vulgaris 'Kinlochruel'), but also Ferns, David's snowball, magnificent bell bells, narrow-leaved laurel roses and numerous hydrangea and Rhododendrons varieties.